Game apparatus



Oct. 8, 1940. i co us 2,216,957

' mu: APPARATUS Filed April '7', 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 r F g. 7

Inventor 83- .FinRIfGNiOOZGlbS Patented Oct. 8, 1940" PATENT orrlcs 2,216,957 GAME mm'rus G. mum-s, Chicago, 111., alllgnor to Raymond T. Moloney, Chicag Ill.

Application April I, 1939. Serial No. 266,563

'1 Claims player in accordance with skill displayed in playing of the game, thus is enabled to save expense in the cost of further playing the game and satisfying his desire for amusement or pastime. It

1 may happen that a player having achieved a oer-- tain number of free plays may not have the time available to playthem oil, so to speak, and it is therefore his desire and right to be reimbursed by the location owner of the game in a. corresponding number of live cent pieces or checks of equivalent value which the player may at some other and convenient time use in playing the game. when such credits are given the player the number of free plays so cashed in should be as recorded by a counter included in the game, and means should be made available to the player or location owner to reset the machine to a zeroized or starting position with no unused free plays showing to some other and subsequent 80 player of the machine.

Accordingly, in a game, such as a pin ball game, it is the primary object of the invention to provide an improved free play means.

Another object is to provide a coin slide freed,

as pin ball game, or the like, having a free play indicator with associated means enabling the indicator .to be zeroized either by playing the free games won by using the coin slide without a coin therein, or by a manual reset control which 9 latter also causes operation a counter to keep a record ot the number of unused free plays cashed in.

Another object is to provide a simple and etiective electro-mechanical system for carrying 45 out the above objects.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in this art as the. disclosure is more fully made.

In carrying out these important objects ac- 50 cording to the present disclosure, a pin ball game is used, the same having a table carrying obstacle switches in a circuit. when a certain number of these obstacle switches are ball closed to .achieve a ,high score, then thereafter with other .5 closing oi the ball bumped switches "free plays" (Cl. 273-118) The invention relates to a coin or check freed are won. Such free plays are indicated by a step up indicator so that the player may see how many free plays are available to him. The-game is released for play by the usual coin freed slide so that each free play won and so indicated represents a coin or check of the value of the coin used in operating said coin slide. These indicated free plays may be used by the player by operating the coin slide without inserting a coin therein and for each free play so used in play- 10 ing the game a reset means is operative to step back the indicator toward zeroizing position where it eventually arrives when all free plays are so used. When the zeroposition is reached the circuit set up is broken and thereafter the coin l5 slide can not be operated unless a coin is present therein.

It may be that a player does not have time or desireto play of! free plays won and that instead he wishes to cash ,in his free plays by takm ing the value thereof in coins or checks usable some other time in playing the game. The improved circuit thus includes a manual control used to' reset the free play indicator to zero position and for each step back of said indicator a counter operates to count the free plays notused in playing the game as such information is of value to the game owner in determining earnings. When the zero position is reached by the' indicator the circuit is made inoperative and a so coin must again be used in the slide to free the game. Thus there is provided, a step up circuit and two releaser circuits, the latter two optionally usable as described. Saiety features are provided so that the coin slide position in or out 86 determines which optional reset circuit maybe used. So-much will suflice for the present, the improved structure being fully disclosed in one practicable form in the accompanying sheets of drawings wherein: 46

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a typical-pin ball game;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the same game or as viewed from the player end and showing the free play indicator;

Figure 3 is a side view, partly in section through the free play indicator structure as viewed from the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is anenlarged plan view of a control 50 unit'used in the reset circuit;

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the unit shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detail side view, partly in section, of a switch, taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

Figure 7 is a rear elevational view of the free play indicator unit along with a diagram showing the electrical control circuits andelements therein.

In Figure 1 a typical pin ball game is shown having a supported cabinet ill, the front or player's end of which carries a ball projector II and a coin slide 12 to release the game parts for play in the well known manner. The cabinet carries a table I3 sloped slightly from the horizontal. A piece I4 forms a guide at the low end of the table so that balls will eventually gravitate into a'pocket I5 in the well known way. An arch piece I 8 forms a ball guide at the upper or high end of the table and-the latter carries in suitable spaced relation the desired number of normally open obstacle switches l1 intended to be closed by a ball l8 rolled onto the table by the projector II in the usual way.

The cabinet includes at its rear end an upright housing extension l3 having positioned in its front face, a translucent screen 23 onto which willbelight projected the number of free plays won in' the playing of the game as will later be described.

The projector unit per se forms no part of the present invention and generally comprises a support 2| carried in the housing 8 behind and suitably spaced from the screen 23. As seen in Figures 3 and 7 a bracket 22 on the support carries a shaft 23 on which is a ratchet wheel 24 carrying a stop pin 25 and having one end of a spring 28 connected to the wheel 24 and the bracket 22. The bracket 22 carries asolenoid 21 having a .movable core 28 pivotally connected to an arm 23, in turn carrying a spring pulled pivoted pawl 33 to operate the ratchet wheel 24 two steps at a time clockwise as viewed in Figure 7 every time the device'21 is energized. A spring pulled pivoted dog 3| carried on the bracket 22 prevents accidental retrograde movement of the ratchet wheel and as the latter is stepped up it will be understood that the spring 28 will be placed under tension.

The device 21 is in circuit with an electric wire 32 from a suitable source of energy, the said wire having therein a suitable normally open switch 33 which may be the same as the obstacle switches l1 or one that will be closed at the desired time by step up means not shown as the result of scoring achievements caused by ball closing of the switches I1. Sufiice it to say that by whatever means the switch 33 is closed it causes operation of the device 21 and the ratchet wheel 24. A

wire 34 leads from the other side of the device 21 to the other main lead 35 to the source of energy.

The shaft 23, or the wheel :24, as desired turns a hub 38 on the opposite side of the bracket 22, said hub carrying a large wheel structure 31 including a rim portion 38 having free play numerals in sequence, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., cut thereinto as shown in Figure 7. 'An optical system including a light source 33 and lenses 43 is alined with the rim portion 38 so that-the numbers therein may be projected onto the screen 23 to be read or viewed from the front side thereof in an obvious manner.

The support 21 also carries an electromagnet 4i and a head part 42 on the dog 3| acts as its armature. Wires 42 and 43 lead from the device 4| into the circuit to be described. The rim portion 38 carries a pin 44 for a purpose later to appear.

A control unit as shown in- Figures 4 and 5 is provided, the same comprising a support 45 which may be positioned in the cabinet III in the place indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2. Carried on said support 45 is an electric motor 48 having a train of reduction gears 41 driven therefrom, the latter turning an upright shaft 43, which carries and drives a horizontally disposed wheel 43, having its periphery'notched to provide wide teeth as shown. The gears 41 and shaft 48 are suitably supported on a plate 43. This notched wheel is positioned proximate a normally open blade switch 50 and serves to open and close the latter. Said switch 53 is carried in an insulated block 5| by a bracket 52 on the support 45.

The support 45 also carries in an upright position an electromagnet 53 adjacent which is a bracket 54 carrying an insulator block 54 for mounting four spring blade contact switches 55, 58, 51 and 58, arranged in side by side pairs. The coil 53 has a spring pulled armature 53 pivotally mounted in the bracket 54 and the free end of the armature carries an upright plate 83 having a slot 8| therein to receive the long blade between switches 58 and 51 as shown.

A push button switch 82 is provided and is operated by an exterior push button 83 and a bracket 84 is provided for the said switch to abut against, when it is ticked by the button 83. A normally closed control switch 85 is disposed in a cross wire 88 between wires 42 and a wire 81 going to the main lead 32. When the wheel rim 38 is in its zero position the pin 44 engages the long leg of the switch 85 and holds it open, and converselywhen the wheel rim 33 is stepped up to show free plays, then the pin 44 moves away from the switch and causes the latter to close.

The coin slide I2 is of the usual type having a spring pressed dog to lock same against sliding movement when no coin is inserted thereinto. In the taking of free plays to play same off, no coin is necessary to be used and therefore an electromagnetic means 68 is provided to cause release of the coin slide dog to enable the 'slide to be used without a coin.

When the coin slide is in its in position it serves to hold closed a normally open switch 83 and when the slide is in its out or retracted position it serves to hold closed a switch 13.

A solenoid 1| having a movable core 12 is also in the circuit to cause operation of a conventional counting mechanism -13 every time the releaser 41 operates as the result of a circuit established only by the push button 83. The various circuits and operation will now be described.

First, there is a step up circuit to cause operation of the device 21 when the switch 33 is closed to operate the wheel 33 from the ratchet means 24, 23 described. Every time switch" is closed current flows through wire 32, switch 33 to device 21; then back through wire 34 and out wire 35.

Second, when the game play is over and free plays are recorded on screen 23 it is desired to,

take the free plays by playing the game and using slide l2 to release the game without using coins 'in the slide.

It will be remembered that the switch is closed now that the pin 44 has left the said switch. Thus current flows from wire 32, through wire 81, wire 58, pastswi-tch 85 and into one side of the releaser coil 4! by way of wire 42. The circuit to the device 88 is complete by way of wire 35, normally closed switch 58 and a wire 14, wire 42, across switch 85, through wires 88, 31 to lead 32. Thus the device 83 is energized to cause the slide l2 to be released or unlocked. The player can now push in the slide, which action causes switch 18 to open, but switch 88 closes. Thus current may flow from device 4|, through wire 43, switch 88, wire 34 and thence to wire 35. The releaser coil 4! is thus energized to attract dog 3i to let the energized spring 28 pull the ratchet wheel 24 and display wheel 38 step back one tooth step, the latter function being governed by the shape of the'teeth on the dog 3| in an obvious manner. In this way all free plays indicated may be successively used up in playing the game and when a stop 15 on the bracket 22 is abutted by the pin 25 on the ratchet wheel 24 then the wheel 38 is in its zeroized position with the pin 44 holding switch 85 open to break the circuit. When the second circuit described in this paragraph is operative it will be noted that the motor 48, and counter 13 are not operative.

The third circuit to be used. iscreated as an alternative when the push button 83 is used. In this condition the motor 48 must turn to operate the notched wheel 48'; the relay coil 53 must be energized to open switch 58 and close switches 55, 51 and 58; the device 88 must not be energized since the coin slide I2 is not to be unlocked, and the solenoid 1| must operate the counter 13 for every step back of the ratchet wheel 24 which means that the magnet 4! must also be ener- ,gized at the proper time.

Thus when the push button 83 is held closed. current flows through wires 32, 81, switch 18 as the slide I2 is in its normal retracted position. Then current goes through a wire 18, switch 82, a wire 11 and by a tap 18 to one side of the motor 48, the wire 11 going into one side of the relay 53 asshown in Figure 7. A wire 18, leads from the other side of the relay 53 to the main line 35. The motor has an out lead 19 that connects to wire 18 so that the relay 53 and motor 48 are in parallel and operate together. A wire leads to one side of the switch 51 and the wire 35 has leads to one side of each switch 58 and 58 as shown. With the relay 53 energized the armature structure causes switch 58 to be opened while switches 55, 51 and 58 are closed. Switch 10 remains closed; the motor 48 and relay 53 being energized, and current flows through wires 32, 61, switches 18' and 82 and wire 11 and the relay 53 and motor 48. By means of wire 80 current goes through switch 51 back to wire 35. In this manner the motor 48 and relay 53 remain energized.

Current also flows from wire 35 through the switch 58, a wire 82, switch 55, a wire 83 into the solenoid 1| and out of the solenoid by a wire'84 to one side of the switch 55. As the notched wheel 49' is turning slowly by the motor 48 and reduction gears 41, the switch 58 is closed and the current passes to wire 43 and electromagnet 4| thence back by way of the wire 42, switch 85, and wires 88, 81 to wire 32. Thus, when switch 50 is closed the releaser means 4|, 3| causes the spring 28 to pull back the ratchet wheel 24 and wheel 38 one tooth step and at the same time the solenoid 1| operates the counter 13 once to record a free game not played or cashed in. Since the motor 48 keeps turning, the cam wheel 49' keeps closing and opening the switch 50 until the ratchet wheel 24' is completely stepped back to bring the wheel 38 back to its zeroized or initial starting osition at which time the pin 44 abuts the switch 85 and opens it, whereupon the complete circuit is automatically opened and held so,

thus deenergizing the motor 48 and relay 53. It

follows now that the switches 55, 51 and 58 are opened andswitch 58 is again closed. The game and circuit are now set in a starting position. The push button 83 must be held in to keep switch 82 closed until all unused free plays are clicked 011 and recorded on the counter 13 at which time a zeroized and reset to initial starting position is achieved for all parts.

From the above detailed description it can now be appreciated that an improved game apparatus and free play control means for games has been provided to achieve the objects heretofore recited.

It is the intentionto cover all changes and.

tem embodied in the circuit including an electromagnetic releaser to zeroize the indicator step by step, a motor in the circuit, rotary circuit making and breaking means driven by the motor and operatively associated with a switch in the circuit to open and close same to cause energization and deenergization of the releaser, and a manually controlled switch in the circuit operable to establish the circuit for keeping the motor running so long as said latter switch is held closed and while the indicator is returned to its zeroized position.

2. For a game apparatus having a circuit and a normally open switch closable at times when wins are determined in the playing of the game, the apparatus including a rotary free play indicator with electromagnetic means to step same up as the above switch is closed, a control system embodied in the circuit including an electromagnetic releaser to zeroize the indicator step by step, a motor in the circuit, rotary circuit making and breaking mean's driven by the motor and operatively associated with a switch in the circuit to open and close same to cause energization and deenergization of the releaser, a manually controlled switch in the circuit operable to establish thecircuit for keeping the motor running while the indicator is being returned to zeroized position, and a normally closed switch in the circuit opened by means on the indicator when the latter reaches zero position to open the circuit and stop operation of the operative parts therein.

3. For a game apparatus having a circuit and a normally open switch closable at times, when wins are determinedin the playing of the game, the apparatus including a rotary free play indicator with electromagnetic means to step same up as the above switch is closed, a. control system embodied in the circuit including an electromagnetic releaser to zeroize the indicator step by step, a motor in the circuit, rotary circuit making and breaklngmeans driven by the motor and operatively associated with a switch in the circuit to open and close same to cause energization and deenergization of the releaser, a manually controlled switch in the circuit operable to establish the circuit for keeping the motor running so long as said latter switch is held closed and while the indicator is returned to its zeroized position, a counting mechanism, and an electromagnetic operating means in the circuit for said mechanism operable conJointly with the releaser to count free plays not used.

4. For a game apparatus having a circuit and a normally open switch closable at times when wins are determined in the playing of the game,

the apparatus including a rotary free play indicator with electromagnetic means to step same up as the above switch is closed, a control system embodied in the circuit including an electromagnetic releaser to zeroize the indicator step by step, a motor in the circuit, rotary circuit making and breaking means driven by the motor and operatively associated with a switch in the circuit to open and close same to cause energization and deenergization of the releaser, a manually controlled switch in the circuit operable to establish the circuit for keeping the motor running so long as said latter switch is held closed and while the indicator is returned to its zeroized position, a counting mechanism, an electromagnetic operating means in the circuit for said mechanism operable coniointly with the releaser to count free plays not used, and a normally closed switch in the circuit opened by means on the indicator when the latter reaches zero position to open the circuit and stop operation of all operative parts therein.

5. For a game apparatus releasable by a coin slide, the apparatus having a circuit and a normally open switch closable at times when wins are determined in the playing of the game, the apparatus further including a rotary free play indicator with electromagnetic means in the circuit to cause stepping up of the indicator as the switch is closed, an electrical control system included in the circuit to zeroize the indicator step by step, separate operator controlled means optionally usable to cause resetting of the indicator to zero position, and control switches in the system governed by the position of the coin slide to determine which optional means is operable to effect zeroizlng of the indicator.

6. For a game apparatus releasable by a coin slide, the apparatus having a circuit and a normally open switch closable at times when wins are determined in the playing of the game, the apparatus further including a rotary free play indicator with electromagnetic means in the circuit to cause stepping up of the indicator as the switch is closed, an electrical control system included in the circuit to zeroize the indicator step by step, two separate operator controlled means either 01 which is optionally usable to cause resetting of the indicator to zero position. two control switches in the system governed respectively by the in or out position of the coin slide to determine which means is to be effective in zeroizing oi. the indicator; and means to make the entire system ineffective when the indicator reaches zero position.

7. For a game apparatus releasable by a coin slide, the apparatus having a circuit and a normally open switch closable at times when wins are determined in the playing of the game, the apparatus further including a rotary free play indicator with electromagnetic means in the circult to cause stepping up of the indicator as the switch is closed, an electrical control system included in the circuit to zeroize the indicator step by step, two separate operator controlled means either of which is optionally usable to cause resetting of the indicator to zero position, two control switches in the system governed respectively by the in or out" position of the coin slide to determine which means is to be effective in zeroizlng of the indicator; and means in the system operative to register each reset step of the indicator when the optional control governed by the out position of the slide is used.

FRANK G. NICOLAUS. 

